What Meaneth This?

Chapter 31 of the London Confession has this statement:

"...and whatsoever the saints, any of them do possess or enjoy of God in this life, is only by faith."

What are the implications of such a statement? Perhaps this can best be answered by asking these questions.

1. Is spiritual life, or regeneration and new birth, something that the saints enjoy in this life? If yes, then it must be "by faith."

2. What does this statement say about the confession's stance on the "ordo salutis," or on whether faith precede or follow regeneration/new birth?

3. What does it say about the Hardshell idea that regeneration and eternal life are not by faith? As I wrote in a recent posting, the Hardshells ascribe very little to faith. Yet, the scriptures, and this statement from the historic confession, wants to ascribe all to faith.

Paul laid down this premise bearing on this issue: "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23) But, in Hardshell soteriology, very little is "of faith." Regeneration or the new birth is not "of faith." And, this being the case, their "regeneration" must be "sin." Preservation or abiding in Christ is also not by or of faith, by Hardshell thinking.

The above article from the London Confession shows just how far the Hardshells have removed from the faith of the fathers.